Apparatus for regulating the start and termination of delivery of components of rod-shaped articles in filter cigarette machines or the like

ABSTRACT

A machine for the production and/or processing of tobaccocontaining rod-shaped articles, particularly a filter cigarette machine, wherein the feeding units which supply components of rod-shaped articles (such as filter plugs and adhesive-coated uniting bands) can be arrested only when the components therein are located in a predetermined position with reference to other moving parts of the machine. The feeding units can resume the delivery of respective components only in certain predetermined positions of the movable parts. This reduces the number of rejects and insures that each component can be properly assembled with other components or otherwise manipulated as soon as the respective feeding unit is started.

United States Patent Heitmann 1 51 Sept. 12, 1972 [72] Inventor: BobHeitmann, Hamburg, Germany [73] Assignee: Hauni-Werke Koerher & Co. KG,

Hamburg, Germany 22 Filed: March 25, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 22,626-

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data March 26, 1969 Germany ..P 19 15339.0

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,067,754 12/1962 Pinkham eta1. ..131/21 R 3,404,689 10/ 1968 Schubert ..131/21 R 2,668,404 2/1954Barefoot ..53/55 2,633,220 3/1953 Chase ..192/148 Primary ExaminerSamuelKoren Assistant Examiner-J. F. Pitrelli Attorney-Michael S. Striker [57]ABSTRACT A machine for the production and/or processing oftobacco-containing rod-shaped articles, particularly a filter cigarettemachine, wherein the feeding units which supply components of rod-shapedarticles (such as filter plugs and adhesive-coated uniting bands) can bearrested only when the components therein are located in a predeterminedposition with reference to other moving parts of the machine. Thefeeding units can resume the delivery of respective components only incertain predetermined positions of the movable parts. This reduces thenumber of rejects and insures that each component can be properlyassembled with other components or otherwise manipulated as soon as therespective feeding unit is started.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED 12 I97? 3. 6 90. 327

sum 1 or 2 lNVfNTOR: 30B HEITMAIVU ATTORNEY PATENTEDSEHZIQIZ 3.690.327

Wl ENTOR 50B HEN/UNI ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE START ANDTERMINATION OF DELIVERY OF COMPONENTS OF ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES IN FILTERCIGARETTE MACHINES OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to apparatus for regulating the start and terminationof delivery of components of rod-shaped articles in filter cigarettemachines or the like. More particularly, the invention relates toapparatus for regulating or controlling the start and termination ofdelivery of such components in machines for the production and/orprocessing of plain or filter cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, filterplugs or analogous articles which, either alone or with other articles,or components, form rod-shaped smokers products.

The feeding units which supply components in filter cigarette machines,cigarette rod making machines and similar producing or processingmachines are normally started and arrested in response to engagement ordisengagement of mechanical or electromagnetic clutches. When aconventional clutch receives a signal, it simply completes or interruptsthe driving connection between a prime mover and the movable parts ofthe feeding unit. Problems arise in connection with the control offeeding units which are used to supply a continuous stream of componentsin a modern filter cigarette machine or the like wherein certaincomponents, for example, filter plugs or adhesive-coated uniting bands,must be applied in synchronism with the supply and transport of othercomponent or components and in synchronism with the speed of drums orother types of conveyors which move the components through the machine.Thus, when the supply of filter plugs is interrupted, there is noprovision to insure that, on restarting, the feeding unit will begin todeliver filter plugs at an optimum instant for immediate transport ofsuch plugs in synchronism with other components of filter cigarettes.

Attempts to utilize clawed or toothed clutches wherein the number ofclaws or teeth corresponds to the number of components which aretransported per unit of time have met with limited success because, inthe event of an emergency, the operator is still unable to disengagesuch a clutch at the exact moment when the components to be supplied bythe feeding unit are in an optimum position for assembly with othercomponents in response to renewed starting of the feeding unit. Thus,such a clutch might be capable of rapidly interrupting the drive for thefeeding unit but there is no guarantee that the clutch will be engagedwhen the components in the feeding unit are in an optimum position withreference to the other components and/or the conveyors which receivecomponents from the restarted feeding device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide anovel and improved apparatus for regulating or controlling the start andtermination of delivery of components by one or more feeding units whichdeliver plain cigarettes, filter plugs, uniting bands and/or othercomponents in machines wherein the components are assembled and/orotherwise manipulated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forcontrolling the start and termination of delivery of discretecomponents, such as a series of filter plugs or adhesive-coated unitingbands, in such a way that the termination of delivery and/or theresumption of delivery takes place only when the components in thefeeding device or devices and/or the moving parts of the machine are inoptimum positions for proper continuation of the assembling process orother operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein thestart and/or termination of delivery of one or more types of componentscan be effected only when the components to be fed and/or the movingpart or parts of the machine are in optimum positions for resumption ofan assembling process or other operation which results in the productionand/or manipulation of rod shaped articles, such as filter plugs, plaincigarettes or filter tipped cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved apparatus itself, how ever, both as to its construction and itsmode of operation, together with additional features andadvantagesthereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detaileddescription of certain specific embodiments with reference to theaccompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevationalview of a filter cigarette machine which embodies the apparatus of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a control assembly which is used in themachine of FIG. 1 to start and terminate the delivery of filter plugs;

FIG. 2a illustrates portions of two transfer conveyors in the plugfeeding unit of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a second control assembly whichis used in the machine of FIG. 1 to regulate the start and terminationof delivery of adhesive-coated uniting bands; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows from theline lV-IV of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The processing apparatus 1 forrod-shaped articles which is shown in FIG. 1 is a filter cigarettemachine of the type MAX" produced by Hauni-Werke, Korber & Co. KG, ofHamburg-Bergedorf, Western Germany.

The machine comprises a feeding unit 2 for filter rod sections of doubleunit length (hereinafter called filter plugs), a feeding unit 3 foradhesive-coated uniting bands, and a feeding unit 4 for pairs of coaxialcigarette rod sections (hereinafter called cigarettes or plaincigarettes) or unit length. The feeding unit 4 receives such cigarettesfrom a cigarette rod making machine, for example, a machine known asGarant and also produced by Hauni-Werke. The feeding units 2 and 4deliver the respective rod-shaped components to an assembly conveyor 8here shown as a drum which serves to assemble each pair of coaxialcigarettes (delivered by conveyors or drums 6, 7) and a filter plug intoa group of three coaxial rod-shaped components wherein the plug islocated in the gap between the adjoining cigarettes. Thus, the drum 8 isa moving part of a receiving means which receives filter plugs from thefeeding unit 2 and pairs of plain cigarettes from the feeding unit 4 andmanipulates such components to assemble groups of coaxial components.The drum 6 has peripheral flutes each of which receives from thecigarette rod making machine a single cigarette whereby such cigarettesform two rows which travel sideways. The purpose of the drum 7 (whichcomprises two relatively movable rotary elements) is to place eachcigarette of one row into axial alignment with a cigarette of the otherrow and to deliver the thus aligned pairs of cigarettes into successiveflutes of the assembly drum 8.

The feeding unit 2 receives filter rod sections of six times unit lengthfrom a magazine or hopper 9 and includes a so-called cutting conveyor ordrum 11 whose flutes carry the rod sections of six times unit lengthpast two revolving coaxial disk-shaped cutters 11a which subdivide eachrod into three coaxial plugs of double unit length. The numeral 12denotes a set of co-operating shuffling drums which convert the threerows of filter plugs delivered by the drum 11 into a single row whereinthe filter plugs travel sideways and are carried by intermediateconveyors or drums 14, 15 toward the transfer station between thefeeding unit 2 and the assembly drum 8.

The feeding unit 3 for adhesive-coated uniting bands comprises a reel orbobbin 16 for a supply of convoluted web or tape 18 of cork, cigarettepaper or the like, an advancing device 19 which draws the web 18 off thereel 16 and feeds it toward a suction drum 23, a suitable paster 21which coats the underside of the web 18 with a film of adhesive, and arotary cutter 22 which is provided with radial blades serving to severthe leading end of the web 18 on the suction drum 23 to form asuccession of adhesive-coated uniting bands. Such bands are attached togroups of cigarettes and filter plugs in the flutes of a transferconveyor or drum which receives the groups from the assembly drum 8 anddelivers them into successive flutes of a wrapping conveyor or drum 24.The transfer drum 20 is the moving part of a receiving means whichreceives groups from the assembly drum 8 and uniting bands from thesuction drum 23 and manipulates such components for delivery to thewrapping drum 24. The wrapping drum 24 is provided with and/orco-operates with means for convoluting each uniting band around therespective filter plug and the inner end portions of the respectiveplain cigarettes to convert each such group into a filter cigarette ofdouble unit length. The filter cigarettes of double unit length are thendelivered into successive flutes of a testing conveyor or drum 26 whichis provided or co-operates with means for determining the resistancewhich the filter cigarettes offer to the flow of a gaseous testingfluid. The thus tested filter cigarettes are then delivered into theflutes of a cutting drum 27 co-operating with a disk-shaped rotarycutter 27a which severs each filter cigarette midway across theconvoluted uniting band to form pairs of filter cigarettes of unitlength. An inverting conveyor or drum 28 thereupon inverts one filtercigarette of each pair end-for-end so that the filter plugs of allcigarettes face in the same direction. The conveyors or drums 29thereupon transport such filter cigarettes of unit length to storage orto a further processing station, for example, to a tray filling deviceor directly to a packing machine.

The machine of FIG. 1 further comprises two control assemblies 13, 17including feed starting and terminating devices and respectivelyarranged to control the feeding units 2, 3 to initiate or terminate thedelivery of filter plugs and uniting bands. These control assembliesinclude clutches which will be described hereinafter following a shortdescription of operation of the filter cigarette machine 1.

Each flute of the drum 6 in the feeding unit 4 receives from thecigarette rod making machine a single plain cigarette of unit length.The cigarettes in successive flutes of the drum are staggered axiallywith reference to each other so that they form two rows. The rotaryelements of the drum 7 thereupon shift the cigarettes of one row withreference to the cigarettes of the other row so that the flutes of theassembly drum 8 receive pairs of axially aligned plain cigarettes whichmove sideways toward the transfer station between the drums 8 and 15.The cigarettes of each pair of axially aligned cigarettes are separatedfrom each other by a gap whose width at least equals the length of afilter plug of double unit length; such gaps can be formed during travelof cigarettes with the drum 8 or on one of the drums 6, 7.

The hopper 9 supplies filter rod sections of six times unit length intosuccessive flutes of the drum 11 whereby such sections travel past thecutters 11a and are subdivided into three filter plugs each. Such filterplugs are thereupon shuffled during travel with the drums 12 so thatthey form a single row of plugs which are transported by the drums 14,15 toward the aforementioned transfer station and into the gaps betweensuccessive pairs of plain cigarettes in the flutes of the assembly drum8.

The advancing device 19 draws the web 18 off the reel 16 and theunderside of the web is coated with adhesive during travel along thepaster 21. The suction drum 23 co-operates with the cutter 22 to form asuccession of uniting bands which are caused to adhere to the filterplugs of successive groups in the flutes of the transfer drum 20; thelatter receives such groups from the flutes of the assembly drum 8. Thelength of each uniting band at least equals the circumferential lengthof a filter plug. The uniting bands which adhere to the filter plugs ofthe groups moving with the transfer drum 20 are thereupon transferredonto the wrapping drum 24 where the bands are converted into tubes whichsurround the respective filter plugs and the adjoining end portions ofthe respective plain cigarettes to form therewith filter cigarettes ofdouble unit length. The filter cigarettes of double unit length aretested with a fluid on the drum 26 and severed on the drum 27 to yieldpairs of filter cigarettes of unit length. One filter cigarette of eachsuch pair is inverted on the drum 28 and the filter cigarettes arethereupon transported by drums 29, e.g., to a tray filling station.

FIG. 2 shows in greater detail a portion of the feeding unit 2 and theconstruction of the clutch in the control assembly 13. This clutch is anelectromagnetic clutch of the clutch and gear type wherein a clutchelement or output element 38a slides on a feathered shaft 38b and canmove its teeth into engagement with or away from the teeth of an inputelement or driver gear 38c. The gear 38c rotates the shaft 38b inresponse to pivoting of a clutching lever 31 which is biased by a spring39 tending to maintain the clutch element 380 in engagement with thedriver gear 38c. The number of teeth on the clutch element 38a and gear38c corresponds to the number of flutes for filter plugs FP provided onthe drum 14. The clutch of the control assembly 13 can be disengaged inresponse to energization of a disengaging relay 32 whose armature 32acan pivot the clutching lever 31 against the opposition of the spring39. A normally open switch 33 serves as a means for energizing thedisengaging relay 32 and a normally closed switch 34 can be opened toeffect deenergization of the relay 32 and to thus effect reengagement ofthe clutch. A disk 41 of a timer Z is rotated by the drive for thefilter cigarette machine 1 so that its speed is synchronized with thatof the machine. The disk 41 is provided with radially extendingequidistant projections or lobes 42 which travel past a contactlesselectronic switch 37 of conventional design. The switch 37 serves as ameans for generating pulses at a frequency which is a function ofrotational speed of the disk 41, i.e., a function of operating speed ofthe machine 1. Such pulses are transmitted to an amplifier 36. The leads43 connect the amplifier 36, the pulse generator 37 and relay 32 with asuitable source of electrical energy. The flutes T of the transfer drum14 are shown in FIG. 2a. The distance between the centers of theseflutes is the same as that between the centers of flutes on the transferdrum which receives filter plugs from the drum 14.

The operation of the structure shown in FIG. 2 is as follows:

In normal operation, the transfer drum 15 delivers filter plugs FP (FIG.2a) into the gaps between successive pairs of axially aligned plaincigarettes in the flutes of the assembly drum 8. If the feed of filterplugs F P is to be interrupted for one or more reasons, for example, dueto termination of feed of plain cigarettes by the unit 4, the operatoror an automatic detector closes the switch .33 which produces anoperation-terminating signal by completing a path for the flow ofelectric currentbetween fixed contacts 44 whereby the circuit of thewinding of the disengaging relay 32 is completed by way of one of theleads 43, amplifier 36, conductor 46, contacts 44, conductor 47, anormally closed relay switch 49a, conductor 48, winding of the relay 32,conductor 48a, and the other lead 43. The amplifier 36 is designed toconstitute a storing device for electrical signals in that it completesthe just mentioned circuit only when a lobe 42 of the disk 41 moves pastthe signal generator 37, i.e., in a predetermined angular position of amovable part of the feeding unit 2 (namely, the drum 14). The shaft 38bdrives all movable parts of the feeding unit 2. Thus, when the clutchelement 38a is disengaged from the driver gear 380, the filter plugs inthe feeding unit 2 are arrested in a predetermined position withreference to the moving part 8 of the machine 1.

The energization of relay 32 results in immediate stoppage of thetransfer drum 14 because the lever 31 then moves the clutch element 380away from the driver gear 380. When the relay 32 is energized, it opensthe switch 49a and simultaneously closes a switch 49 in a holdingcircuit which maintains the relay 32 in energized condition by way ofthe normally closed switch 34.

When the disturbance is eliminated, i.e., when the machine 1 is readyfor operation, the operator opens the switch 34 which thereby producesan operationstarting signal serving to effect a deenergization of therelay 32 and to thus reengage the clutch element 38a with the drivergear 380. Such reengagement takes place in the exact angular position ofthe rotating drum 8 in which the latter's flutes can receive filterplugs F P from the adjacent transfer drum 15. This is due to the factthat the distribution of teeth on the clutch element 380 and driver gear380 corresponds to distribution of flutes T and that the driver gear 38crotates in synchronism with the drum 8. It will be seen that the clutchof the control assembly 13 can be disengaged only when the filter plugsFP in the feeding device 2 assume a predetermined position withreference to the.

moving part (drum) 8 of the machine, and can be reengaged only when thepart 8 of the machine 1 assumes a predetermined optimum position,namely, when the freshly started transfer drum 15 can immediatelydeliver filter plugs FP into successive flutes of the drum 8. The switch34 can be opened by hand or by a detector which senses the presence orabsence of plain cigarettes in the flutes of the drum 8. The clutch ofthe control assembly 13 constitutes a combined starting and arrestingmeans for the feeding unit 2.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the details of a mechanical clutch in thecontrol assembly 17 for the feeding unit 3 which supplied uniting bands.The clutch normally drives an advancing roll 51 of the advancing device19. The web 18 passes between the driven advancing roll 51 and acounterroll or idler roll 52 which is biased toward the roll 51 (or viceversa). When the clutch of the control assembly 17 is engaged, the rolls51, 52 cooperate to draw the web 18 off the reel 16. The clutch ismounted in walls 53 and 54 which form part of the frame of themachine 1. A disengaging relay 57 is mounted on a domed cover member 56which is affixed to the wall 54, and the armature 58 of the relay 57 ismoved axially to pivot a bell crank lever 61 when the circuit of therelay winding is completed. The armature 58 extends into the interior ofthe cover 56, and the lever 61 is tumable on a pivot pin 59 which ismounted on the output element 63 of the clutch. The arm 161 of the lever61 carries a blade 62 and is attached to one end of a spring 64 whichtends to maintain it in the position shown in FIG. 3 in which the arm261 of the lever 61 is located in the path of movement of the armature58. The output shaft 66 of the clutch is fixedly connected to the outputelement 63 by a nut 82 and is rotatable in an antifriction bearing 67.The shaft 66 is further fixedly connected with the roll 51 of theadvancing device 19. The driving or input element 71 or the clutchcomprises an annulus of gear teeth 72 which are driven by a transmission(not shown) of the machine 1 so that the input element 71 rotates at aspeed which is synchronized with the operating speed of the machine. Theinput element 71 is further provided with four equidistant projectionsor lobes 73. A

stationary part 74 of the clutch resembles a ring and is also providedwith four projections or lobes 76. A locking pawl 77 has an elongatedslot 78 (see FIG. 4)

for a pivot pin 79 which is mounted on the output element 63. A spring81 biases the pawl 77 to the position shown in FIG. 4. In such position,the pawl 77 straddles a portion 61a of the arm 16] of lever 61.

The operation of the clutch 17 is as follows:

The dimensions of the web advancing device 19 are selected in such a waythat each revolution of the driven advancing roll 51 results in forwardtransport of a length of web 18 which equals the combined length of fouruniting bands. Thus, the length which is transported by the rolls 51, 52in response to a complete revolution of the roll 51 is severed by theblades of the cutter 22 to yield four uniting bands of unit length. Werethe length of the web 18 which is withdrawn and moved past the rolls 51,52 less than four times unit length, one of the uniting bands obtainedfrom such length would be shorter than necessary. Consequently, a filtercigarette of double unit length embodying such a short uniting bandwould be defective because of a leak at the point where the axiallyextending marginal portions of the convoluted band would fail tooverlap. To avoid the formation of unsatisfactory uniting bands, theclutch of the control assembly 17 is designed in such a way that it canmechanically store a disengaging signal for an interval of time which islong enough to insure that the rolls 51, 52 of the advancing device 19transport an optimum length of the web 18, namely, a length whichsuffices to yield four uniting bands of requisite length. Thus, theclutch insures that the feeding unit 3 is arrested at a time when apredetermined length of the web 18 assumes a predetermined (optimum)position with reference to the moving part 20 of the machine 1.

In normal operation, the input element 71 of the clutch rotates onantifriction bearings 68, 69 in response to transmission of torque fromthe aforementioned transmission to the gear including the teeth 72 onthe input element 71. The portion 61a of the arm 161 of lever 61 abutsagainst a lobe 73 of the input element 71 and is rotated to drive theoutput element 63 which in turn rotates the shaft 66 and hence theadvancing roll 51.

If the person in charge wishes to interrupt the feed of uniting bands,or if a detector detects a flaw in the operation of the machine 1, therelay 57 is energized and the armature 58 is moved axially to engage thearm 261 of the lever 61. However, the latter cannot pivot on the pin 59because the portion 61a of its arm 161 is locked by the pawl 77 in amanner as shown in FIG. 4. All the armature 58 can do in immediateresponse to energization of the relay 57 is to move the locking pawl 77radially outwardly, as viewed in FIG. 4, to the extent determined by thelength of the slot 78. Such slight radial displacement suffices to movethe pallet 177 of the pawl 77 into the space between two adjoining lobes76 on the stationary element 74 of the clutch. The direction of rotationof the lever 61 and locking pawl 77 is indicated in FIG. 4 by arrow A.When the pallet 177 reaches the phantom-line position 177' of FIG. 4-,it strikes against the adjacent lobe 76 and causes the pawl 77 to pivotagainst the opposition of the spring 81 so as to release the portion 61aand to permit further pivoting of the lever 61 under the action of thearmature 58. Such pivotal movement of the lever 61 takes place suddenlywhereby the blade 62 penetrates into the space between the adjoiningteeth of an internal gear 83 provided on the stationary element 74. Thegear 83 comprises a large number of closely adjacent teeth with narrowtooth spaces therebetween. The blade 62 co-operates with the adjoiningteeth of the internal gear 83 to arrest the output element 63 in anaccurately determined angular position in which the rolls 51, 52 havecompleted the transport of a length of web 18 which equals the combinedlength of four uniting bands. Thus, the clutch of FIGS. 3 and 4 insuresstoppage of the web 18 in a position in which the drum 23 and cutter 22can co-operate to form uniting bands of optimum length as soon as thefeeding unit 3 is restarted. The length of the web 18 between the drum20 and the nip between the advancing rolls 51, 52 is a whole multiple ofthe length of a uniting band whenever the driven clutch element 63 isarrested in response to entry of the blade 62 into a space between theteeth of the internal gear 83. The parts 62, 83 constitute a quicklyreacting brake for the output element 63 in that they insure practicallyinstantaneous stoppage of the element 63 when the pallet 177 of thelocking pawl 77 engages one of the stationary lobes 76.

If the person in charge wishes to restart the feeding unit 3, i.e., tostart the withdrawal of web 18 from the reel 16, the relay 57 isdeenergized so that the armature 58 returns to the retracted position ofFIG, 3 under the action of a customary return spring, not shown. Thespring 64 immediately pivots the lever 61 toward the position shown inFIG. 3 so that the portion 61a of the arm 161 moves into the spacebetween two successive lobes 73 on the input element 71. The outputelement 63 begins to turn and to rotate the shaft 66 and the roll 51 assoon as the part 61a is engaged and entrained by the oncoming lobe 73.The lobes 73 determine the exact instant of restarting of the roll 51,and such restarting takes place when the movable parts of the machine 1are in an optimum position for the production of satisfactory filtercigarettes. Thus, each of the uniting bands will have an optimum lengthand each such band will be applied to the adjacent groups consisting oftwo plain cigarettes and a filter plug in an optimum position for properwrapping on the drum 24.

The quickly reacting brake including the parts 62, 83 shown in FIG. 3insures that the advancing roll 51 is arrested in immediate response todisengagement of the clutch 63, 71, 74 in the control assembly 17. Thisis particularly desirable when the output elements of the clutch exhibitthe tendency of continuing their movement, for example, due to inertia,when the clutch is disengaged. The signal storing device of the controlassembly 17 includes the pallet 177 of the lever 77 and the lobes 76 ofthe stationary clutch element 74. These parts insure that a signalproduced in response to energization of the relay 57 is stored if it isproduced prematurely, namely, at a moment when the components (unitingbands) supplied by the feeding unit 3 to the drum 20 are not in anoptimum position with reference to this drum. Thus, the signal storingdevice forms part of the clutch and therefore occupies little room inthe control assembly 17.

An important advantage of the improved apparatus is that the controlassemblies 13 and 17 are relatively simple but are nevertheless capableof insuring interruption of delivery of uniting bands, filter plugs orother components of rod-shaped tobacco containing articles in an optimumposition of such articles with reference to the moving parts (8, of therespective receiving means, and that the resumption of operation of thefeeding units 2 and 3 can be effected at the time when the moving partsof the receiving means are in an optimum position for reception ofcomponents from the feeding means. Proper timing of termination andresumption of operation of the feeding units insures that the variouscomponents are properly assembled and otherwise processed as soon as thefeeding units resume their operation so that the number of rejects isreduced to a minimum, not only because the various components are fed tothe respective receiving means at a proper time but also because certaincomponents, such as the uniting bands, are formed in the apparatus witha view to insure that each thereof is immediately suited for furtherprocessing.

7 Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gistof the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featureswhich fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic andspecific aspects of my contribution to the art and, therefore, suchadaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended 1. In an apparatus for assembling and/orprocessing components of cigarettes, packs or analogous smokersproducts, a combination comprising receiving and manipulating meansincluding at least one continuously moving first conveyor; feeding meansoperative to supply components to said receiving means and including atleast one second conveyor; normally engaged clutch means for moving saidsecond conveyor in synchronism with said first conveyor so that saidfeeding means can supply components to said receiving means; and controlmeans actuatable to engage and disengage said clutch means to therebyrespectively start and terminate the movement of said second conveyor independency on the position of said first conveyor relative to saidsecond conveyor and in dependency on the position of said secondconveyor relative to said first conveyor.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said control meansfurther comprises braking means arranged to arrest said second conveyorin response to disengagement of said clutch.

3. A combination as defined in claim I, wherein said feeding means isarranged to supply uniting bands.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said V feeding means isarranged to supply filter plugs.

5. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said second conveyor isarranged to supply said components to said first conveyor at apredetermined first transfer station and further comprising secondfeeding means for supplying to said first conveyor components of asecond type at a second transfer station, one of said transfer stationsbeing located upstream of the other transfer station as considered inthe direction of movement of said first conveyor.

6. A combination defined in claim 1, wherein said control meanscomprises means for producing clutch actuating signals an means forstoring said signals until one of said conveyors assumes said positionrelative to the other of said conveyors.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said means for producingsignals is operated by hand.

8. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said means for producingsignals is responsive to changes in the operating condition of saidapparatus.

9. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said means for producingsignals is responsive to changes in the operation of said feeding means.

1. In an apparatus for assembling and/or processing components ofcigarettes, packs or analogous smokers'' products, a combinationcomprising receiving and manipulating means including at least onecontinuously moving first conveyor; feeding means operative to supplycomponents to said receiving means and including at least one secondconveyor; normally engaged clutch means for moving said second conveyorin synchronism with said first conveyor so that said feeding means cansupply components to said receiving means; and control means actuatableto engage and disengage said clutch means to thereby respectively startand terminate the movement of said second conveyor in dependency on theposition of said first conveyor relative to said second conveyor and independency on the position of said second conveyor relative to saidfirst conveyor.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein saidcontrol means further comprises braking means arranged to arrest saidsecond conveyor in response to disengagement of said clutch.
 3. Acombination as defined in claim 1, wherein said feeding means isarranged to supply uniting bands.
 4. A combination as defined in claim1, wherein said feeding means is arranged to supply filter plugs.
 5. Acombination as defined in claim 1, wherein said second conveyor isarranged to supply said components to said first conveyor at apredetermined first transfer station and further comprising secondfeeding means for supplying to said first conveyor components of asecond type at a second transfer station, one of said transfer stationsbeing located upstream of the other transfer station as considered inthe direction of movement of said first conveyor.
 6. A combinationdefined in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises means forproducing clutch actuating signals and means for storing said signalsuntil one of said conveyors assumes said position relative to the otherof said conveyors.
 7. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein saidmeans for producing signals is operated By hand.
 8. A combination asdefined in claim 6, wherein said means for producing signals isresponsive to changes in the operating condition of said apparatus.
 9. Acombination as defined in claim 6, wherein said means for producingsignals is responsive to changes in the operation of said feeding means.